Vernon Armentor, 48, who allegedly made unauthorized use of a credit card belonging to Texas Equusearch, is in the Galveston County Jail on $20,000 bond.

Photo: Galveston County Sheriff

Vernon Armentor, 48, who allegedly made unauthorized use of a...

Image 2 of 27

Volunteers with Texas Equusearch use ATVs to search along the Westpark Toll Rd. at Fondren for Kathy Lawson-Arrendondo, 37, who has been missing since Feb. 11.
(Johnny Hanson / Houston Chronicle)

Volunteers with Texas Equusearch use ATVs to search along the...

Image 3 of 27

Texas Equusearch used a small boat equipped with sonar to search for 2-year-old Devin Davis in a creek near his home where he went missing yesterday afternoon while his mother was taking a nap in Liberty County east of Cleveland Wednesday, March 28, 2012, in Cleveland.
The boy's mother said she had fallen asleep after securing her son and another 1-year-old child for a nap, said Rex Evans with the Liberty County Sheriff's Department. The mother told authorities that the door to the house was locked with a bolt, but somehow the child managed to get outside.
She discovered him missing about 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, looked around frantically for a while and then alerted authorities who issued an Amber Alert.
Evans said the mother also found the door to her jeep was ajar, though she said she had left it shut.
The child was last seen wearing a red and gray T-shirt and jeans. Initially, authorities thought he was wearing Spiderman tennis shoes but those shoes were located inside the home.

Photo: Johnny Hanson, Houston Chronicle

Texas Equusearch used a small boat equipped with sonar to search...

Image 4 of 27

Members of EquuSearch and the Cypress Creek Fire Dept. used a sonar device as they searched Spring Creek for Randle Terry.

Photo: Steve Campbell, Chronicle

Members of EquuSearch and the Cypress Creek Fire Dept. used a sonar...

Image 5 of 27

Alvin Tipps wtih Texas EquuSearch leads a search teams from a wooded area off of Old Farm Rd., near Westheimer Rd., after searching for any sign of 21-year-old Natalia Ershova Monday, Dec. 31, 2012, in Houston. Ershova's husband said she went missing in the Galleria area Friday after they argued.

Photo: Cody Duty, Houston Chronicle

Alvin Tipps wtih Texas EquuSearch leads a search teams from a...

Image 6 of 27

Glenn Norton, a Lytle United Methodist Church trustee, and Misty Garey of Texas EquuSearch erect crosses for the two Rudasill children.

Photo: Tom Reel, Staff

Glenn Norton, a Lytle United Methodist Church trustee, and Misty...

Image 7 of 27

Texas Equusearch used a small boat equipped with sonar to search for 2-year-old Devin Davis in a creek near his home where he went missing yesterday afternoon while his mother was taking a nap in Liberty County east of Cleveland Wednesday, March 28, 2012, in Cleveland.
The boy's mother said she had fallen asleep after securing her son and another 1-year-old child for a nap, said Rex Evans with the Liberty County Sheriff's Department. The mother told authorities that the door to the house was locked with a bolt, but somehow the child managed to get outside.
She discovered him missing about 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, looked around frantically for a while and then alerted authorities who issued an Amber Alert.
Evans said the mother also found the door to her jeep was ajar, though she said she had left it shut.
The child was last seen wearing a red and gray T-shirt and jeans. Initially, authorities thought he was wearing Spiderman tennis shoes but those shoes were located inside the home.

Photo: Johnny Hanson, Houston Chronicle

Texas Equusearch used a small boat equipped with sonar to search...

Image 8 of 27

Tom Miller, director of Texas EquuSearch, provides an extra pair of eyes as Glenn Zebrowski pinpoints the graves of the Rudasill children in Lytle Community Cemetery, where they had been lost for half a century.

A Harris County sheriff's detective, left, speaks with Tim Miller of Texas EquuSearch near a trailer where a body believed to be a missing woman was found.

Photo: Mike Glenn

A Harris County sheriff's detective, left, speaks with Tim Miller...

Image 10 of 27

Volunteers from Texas EquuSearch and more than two dozen first-responders trained all day in the heat between the communities of Hardin and Moss Hill in Liberty County.

Photo: Montgomery County Police Reporter

Volunteers from Texas EquuSearch and more than two dozen...

Image 11 of 27

Michael Elkins, father of victim Amber Chantel Elkins, left, embraces Tim Miller, founder and director of Texas EquuSearch, before a July 2011 candlelight vigil, held for Amber, who police believe was murdered by her boyfriend.

Photo: Eric Kayne

Michael Elkins, father of victim Amber Chantel Elkins, left,...

Image 12 of 27

April Davis looks on as local authorities including Houston police divers along with Texas Equusearch search for her son. (Johnny Hanson / Houston Chronicle)

April Davis looks on as local authorities including Houston police...

Image 13 of 27

Mike and April Davis mother and father of Devin Davis embrace as local authorities including Houston police divers along with Texas Equusearch search for 2-year-old Devin Davis who went missing yesterday afternoon while his mother was taking a nap in Liberty County east of Cleveland Wednesday, March 28, 2012, in Cleveland.
The boy's mother said she had fallen asleep after securing her son and another 1-year-old child for a nap, said Rex Evans with the Liberty County Sheriff's Department. The mother told authorities that the door to the house was locked with a bolt, but somehow the child managed to get outside.
She discovered him missing , looked around frantically for a while and then alerted authorities who issued an Amber Alert.
Evans said the mother also found the door to her jeep was ajar, though she said she had left it shut.
The child was last seen wearing a red and gray T-shirt and jeans. Initially, authorities thought he was wearing Spiderman tennis shoes but those shoes were located inside the home.

Photo: Johnny Hanson, Houston Chronicle

Mike and April Davis mother and father of Devin Davis embrace as...

Image 14 of 27

Texas Equusearch used a small boat equipped with sonar to search for 2-year-old Devin Davis in a creek near his home where he went missing yesterday afternoon while his mother was taking a nap in Liberty County east of Cleveland Wednesday, March 28, 2012, in Cleveland.
The boy's mother said she had fallen asleep after securing her son and another 1-year-old child for a nap, said Rex Evans with the Liberty County Sheriff's Department. The mother told authorities that the door to the house was locked with a bolt, but somehow the child managed to get outside.
She discovered him missing about 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, looked around frantically for a while and then alerted authorities who issued an Amber Alert.
Evans said the mother also found the door to her jeep was ajar, though she said she had left it shut.
The child was last seen wearing a red and gray T-shirt and jeans. Initially, authorities thought he was wearing Spiderman tennis shoes but those shoes were located inside the home.

Photo: Johnny Hanson, Houston Chronicle

Texas Equusearch used a small boat equipped with sonar to search...

Image 15 of 27

Volunteers for Equusearch sign in Friday morning April 14,2006. at First Assembly of God church before going on to Search for three year-old Kendrick Jackson, who was last seen Friday morning, April 7, 2006.(BILLY SMITH II/STAFF)

Photo: Billy Smith II

Volunteers for Equusearch sign in Friday morning April 14,2006. at...

Image 16 of 27

Eddie Arguijo, front, a field coordinator with Texas Equusearch, leads a group back to their vehicles after combing a field in search of Amber Elkins Friday, July 29, 2011, in Houston. Elkins was last seen on Sunday and her vehicle was found Tuesday with blood in it. ( Nick de la Torre / Houston Chronicle )

Photo: Nick De La Torre, Staff

Eddie Arguijo, front, a field coordinator with Texas Equusearch,...

Image 17 of 27

Angel Medina embraces sisters Emelinda Medina and Rosa Amelia Medina as they see eachother for the first time in the area of interest as Texas EquuSearch volunteers, and with law enforcement from Houston Police Department, Waller County, Brookshire, and Texas Rangers search for the remains of Senovia Medina.

Tim Miller, founder of Texas Equusearch, talks with volunteers at Garden Oaks Baptist Church before they leave to search for 12-year-old Jonathan Foster on Dec. 28, 2010.

Photo: Melissa Phillip, Chronicle

Tim Miller, founder of Texas Equusearch, talks with volunteers at...

Image 20 of 27

Members of Texas Equusearch Ron Overman of Montgomery, left, and Joseph Hopkins of Pearland, look along White Oak Bayou in Houston near Loop 610 and the intersection of Link and Enid for Jonathan Foster, 12, who was last seen alive on Dec. 24 near the area of N. Shepherd and 43rd.

Photo: Melissa Phillip, Chronicle

Members of Texas Equusearch Ron Overman of Montgomery, left, and...

Image 21 of 27

April 21 | Texas EquuSearch members view the scene where a missing four year-old was found along the banks of the ditch where it forks into Greens Bayou near Beltway 8 and Aldine-Westfield Rd. The location is about a mile away from the location of the accident where five children lost their lives when their father drove the car into a ditch filled with rain water.

Photo: Mayra Beltran, Houston Chronicle

April 21 | Texas EquuSearch members view the scene where a...

Image 22 of 27

Members of Texas EquuSearch join the search for Hallie's remains on April 21.

Photo: Mayra Beltran, Chronicle

Members of Texas EquuSearch join the search for Hallie's remains on...

Image 23 of 27

Rain York, left, and Cheryl Lawless, both with Texas EquuSearch, kneel quietly at a memorial for Riley Ann Sawyers on Thursday, Nov. 29. A new plaque bearing the her full name replaced the original one for Baby Grace.

Photo: Steve Ueckert, Chronicle

Rain York, left, and Cheryl Lawless, both with Texas EquuSearch,...

Image 24 of 27

Oct. 6, 2007: Equusearch volunteers walk the thick-wooded areas of Acres Homes to ensure that there are no more homicide victims or evidence before a cleanup effort is launched.

Photo: Billy Smith II, Chronicle

Oct. 6, 2007: Equusearch volunteers walk the thick-wooded areas of...

Image 25 of 27

Tim Miller, head of Texas EquuSearch reports on the search for Jessie Davis in Uniontown, Ohio.

Photo: Mark Duncan, AP

Tim Miller, head of Texas EquuSearch reports on the search for...

Image 26 of 27

Richard Allen, from left, and David Grindle of Texas Dive and Recovery working along with EquuSearch scan the banks of Whites Lake in Highland on April 14, 2006.

His daughter, then 16, disappeared in 1984 from League City. At the time, Armentor was her boyfriend.

"I'm sick about it," Miller said of the theft allegations. "That was my daughter's boyfriend and would have been my son-in-law. It's a disgrace to Laura and a disgrace to EquuSearch."

Armentor became a suspect after the group's treasurer noticed some unexplained cash withdrawals on its credit card statement, Miller said.

After reviewing surveillance video from automatic teller machines, Miller said he was surprised to discover that Armentor was making the withdrawals.

"I nearly broke down and cried when I saw him on the video," Miller said. "I've always been there for him."

Miller said he couldn't immediately estimate the amount of the loss. "I would say this is only the beginning of the investigation," Miller suggested.

Discovery of the thefts comes at a bad time for the all-volunteer group, which he said has been struggling financially in recent months.

"I seriously don't know if we're going to survive it," he said.

Miller told of receiving a call at 2:30 a.m. Wednesday from the family of a young woman missing in Louisiana, and said that for the first time ever he had to tell the family there was nothing EquuSearch could do.

"Maybe some kindhearted person out there will remember all the good things we did and will step up and help us out a bit," Miller said. "Or maybe it's God's way of saying, 'You all have done a good job and now it's time to do something else.' "